Please put the smartphone, iPad, and tablet down so you can focus!
cell phone
AJEKXM
EmpoweringParents.com_
In schools we rave about technology and how it supports learning, in which I totally agree. Technology is a great tool that extends learning for students and enables them to search quickly for information. Yes, we should be using it for research in schools. I understand how it supports learning but what about our students attention span, ability to multitask, and schema development? Well, William Klemm, a professor of neuroscience said, “students rely on the internet for knowledge they are programming themselves to look for information on the internet and not in their heads.” This is scary to think that this generation struggles with basic information so much that they must rely on the internet instead of their brain. This brings me to the question; are doing a disservice to our students by not helping them build a working memory? This on-going discussion takes me back in the classroom, when I was a teacher; I would introduce a lesson and students would use their background knowledge and/or experience to make connections which helps them acquire new knowledge. The student can then file new information into their long-term memory of storage. The concern with technology stems from pop-ups and distractions, which interferes with forming memories, "students cannot build more complex knowledge without information in their working memory,” stated Klemm. So when students become distracted ie. online links, phone rings, imbedded videos during this process it crowds the new incoming information and makes the brain that much harder to process new information for storage. As for multitasking, Klemm goes further into explain that, “it doesn’t exist, When a person thinks she is doing two things at once , she is really switching rapidly back and forth between individual tasks, eroding the attention and quality of each task in the process.” Students who study with ear buds, computers, and cell phones near have a hard time focusing and struggle with acquiring new information so parents, teachers, and colleagues slap that piece of technology out of their hand and make sure you do whatever it takes to build your children's working memory. In the article; Technology in the classroom there's a great list of pro's and con's for mobile phone usage in the classroom: Pros:Emergency Contact- Cell phones are undeniably useful in cases of emergency.Security- Cell phones not only allow students to keep in touch with their parents but also with friends, relatives or emergency helpline numbers in case of complicated situations.Academic Help- Mobile phones have several features like cameras, calculators, internet connection that can be used for research, home works and project work.Multi-functions- Cell phones offer a number of features such as music, videos, social media and other useful apps for an all round entertainment of students.High-tech alternative to traditional classroom teaching- They have been found to be used for interactive classroom assignments like classroom polls, or for quizzing.Exit Ticket- allows students to submit their exit tickets or brief responses to assignments through the app on their cell phones.Cons:Distraction- While students may be allowed using cell phones in class, a major disadvantage that has been realized is the much distraction it causes in school work and class activities.Under-development of skills- A small tool such as calculator on the cell phone has made the students to lose ability to respond quickly to problems and have basic common sense. There is no ‘thinking’ going on.Short attention span- A need of ‘entertainment’ after every few minutes makes them hyper and indulgent into mischievous activities.Wrong or Illegal Usage- students use them for taking pictures, uploading videos, chatting, prank calls and for other wrong ways.Hostility- people who can afford them has found to have caused hostility amongst those who cannot, leading to feelings of jealousy, hierarchy, ragging and theft.